Telescoping device for a paddle

ABSTRACT

A device for use with a paddle including a telescoping device coupled to a paddle at an end of the paddle and collapsible into the end of the paddle and the telescoping device having a picker on a first end of the telescoping device wherein the picker is configured to attach to an aperture in a ball.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 63/202,363, filed Jun. 8, 2021, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sporting equipment, and moreparticularly to a multipurpose pickleball paddle comprising a built-inmechanical device that permits the user to pick up a ball withoutbending over.

Conventional pickleball paddles are too short to pick up a pickleballwithout bending over. When playing pickleball, in order to pick up apickleball, a pickleball player must bend over to pick up thepickleball. There is no existing solution to this problem.

Normal pickleball paddles are too short for a player to use to pick upthe ball: the player is therefore unable to pick up a ball withoutbending over. As can be seen, there is a need for a device, extendablefrom a pickleball paddle capable of assisting the user in picking up apickleball without having to bend over.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a device for use with a paddlecomprises a telescoping device coupled to a paddle at an end of thepaddle and collapsible into the end of the paddle and the telescopingdevice having a picker on a first end of the telescoping device whereinthe picker is configured to attach to an aperture in a ball.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a pickleball paddle with atelescoping device in a stored position according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of FIG. 3 with the telescopingdevice in an extended position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pickleball paddle with thetelescoping device in the extended position shown in use according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a picker according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of a pickerthereof;

and

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a third embodiment of a pickerthereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claimswith reference to the drawings.

A general overview of the various features of the invention will beprovided, with a detailed description following. Broadly, an embodimentof the present invention provides a telescoping, mechanical deviceconfigured coupled to or couplable to a paddle, such as a pickleballpaddle, that permits a user to pick up a ball without bending over. Thetelescoping device may be collapsible into a first position for storage(or a storage position) and extendable into a second position for use(or an extended position).

The present invention may permit a user to extend the device from thefirst position to the second position. While extended and in the secondposition, the user may operate the device to pick up a pickleball ballby a picker on a first end of the telescoping device, advantageously,without bending over. The user may then return the device to the firststorage position to use the paddle for playing pickleball.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the device may be integralto or integrated with a pickleball paddle. In other embodiments, thepresent invention may be constructed and arranged to be provided as aseparate attachment or attachments to be installed by purchasers orusers on their own pickleball paddles.

In some embodiments, the telescoping device may be mounted or integratedin a different position into the paddleball paddle. For example, thetelescoping device may extend from a top of the paddleball paddle orfrom the handle of the pickleball paddle.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the device may extend intoa second position when actuated by the user. The user may eject thetelescoping device from the paddle by means of a button or push button.The push button may enable the telescoping device to extend or retractby mechanical or electrical forces. For example, the device may bespring loaded. In such embodiments, the device may be pressured by aspring when in the storage position and may extend into the extendedposition at a touch of the button which releases the telescoping devicefrom the storage position. In some embodiments, the push button may bein electronic communication with a motor. The motor may be configured toeject or retract the telescoping device. The motor may be housed withina handle of the paddle.

When in use, the user may extend the telescoping device from thepickleball paddle, utilize the device to retrieve a pickleball ball inan ergonomically friendly manner, and then retract the device into thepaddle.

In some embodiments, the present invention may include a lockingmechanism to prevent the device from being deployed into the secondposition during regular use of the pickleball paddle. In someembodiments, the locking mechanism may be provided by friction. In someembodiments, the push button may be configured to release thetelescoping device from the collapsed position by releasing the lockingmechanism.

The extending mechanism of the present invention may have a picker onits end. The picker may be a hook, a cup, or a sphere. The picker may beconfigured to attach to or pick up pickleball balls.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 , a pickleball paddle 10 comprises a handle12, a frame 14, a paddle 16, and a telescoping device 18. Thetelescoping device 18 is in a collapsed position, not extended from thepickleball paddle 10. A picker 18A extends from a first end of thetelescoping device 18.

In FIGS. 4-6 , the telescoping device 18 is in an extended position,extended from inside of the paddle 16 through an opening 20 on a top endof the pickleball paddle 10. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the picker18A retrieves a pickleball 22 by insertion of the picker 18A into anaperture 22A in the pickleball 22.

FIG. 7 gives a detailed view of the picker 18A according to anembodiment of the present invention. The picker 18A is an L shaped andextends from the telescoping device 18. The picker 18A may be exchangedwith a second embodiment of the picker 18B or a third embodiment of thepicker 18C, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively. In some embodiments,the pickers 18A, 18B, 18C may be releasably exchanged andinterchangeable. The second embodiment of the picker 18B may be a halfsphere or a reverse plunger. The third embodiment of the picker 18C maybe a sphere. The sphere may include barbs 19. The barbs 19 may assistwith attaching to the pickleball 22.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for use with a paddle comprising: atelescoping device coupled to a paddle at an end of the paddle andcollapsible into the end of the paddle; and the telescoping devicehaving a picker on a first end of the telescoping device wherein thepicker is configured to attach to an aperture in a ball.
 2. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the picker is an L shape.
 3. The device of claim 1,wherein the picker is a half sphere.
 4. The device of claim 1, whereinthe picker is a sphere.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein thetelescoping device is integrated into the paddle.
 6. The device of claim1, wherein the telescoping device is configured to be installed into thepaddle by a purchaser.
 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising abutton on a handle of the paddle configured to release the telescopingdevice from a collapsed position within the end of the paddle.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7, wherein the button is operative to mechanicallyejecting the telescoping device from the collapsed position into anextended position by a spring.
 9. The device of claim 7, wherein thebutton is in electronic communication with a motor wherein the motor isconfigured to eject the telescoping device from the collapsed positioninto an extended position.